The South Side's Hottest Chicago School Board Races

Chicago's South and Southwest Sides encompass nine of the 20 school board districts up for election in November. But four have only one candidate officially on the ballot, and only three appear to be truly competitive races: 6b, 7a, and 10b. Let's get into it.

District 6b: The Rev. Meets the Esq.

This race is unique because it is the only district race in the city where neither the Chicago Teachers Union nor SEIU endorsed either candidate. Meanwhile, two anti-CTU political groups that usually work in tandem are facing off.

Common Ground Collective has endorsed Pastor Michael Neal of Bronzeville's Glorious Light Church, though Neal's campaign committee had yet to report any donations from them (or anyone else) as of September 22, according to the Illinois Sunshine database. The Urban Center is lawyer Brittany Kimble's largest donor, though all the donations were for in-kind services related to getting on the ballot.

A side-by-side look at the candidates shows they take very similar positions on the issues. Their biggest differences appear to be in their local backers. Neal's supporters include Bright Start Church's Pastor Chris Harris, Sr., Ald. Pat Dowell (3), and current 6b Board Member Jessica Biggs, who chose to run for board president rather than campaign to retain her seat. As she told the Hyde Park Herald, Kimble is endorsed by Dr. Byron T. Brazier, the influential pastor of Woodlawn's Apostolic Church of God.

Though Neal appears to have more local heavyweights behind him, this is very much a local neighborhood matchup, with plenty of room for canvassing hustle to carry the day.

District 7a: Pilsen Icon Faces Tenacious Challenger

District 7a, which runs from the Near West Side and Little Italy through Pilsen into Little Village, features a contest between appointed incumbent Emma Lozano and second-time challenger Jesus Ayala, Jr., who ran last time but did not make the ballot. This race also highlights the split between two progressive unions deeply rooted in the Chicago Public Schools: CTU backs Lozano; SEIU has endorsed Ayala.

District 10b: The Newbie, the Ward Heeler, and the Wild Card

Connie Anderson and her husband, Clifton Muhammad, moved to South Chicago after his uncle died in 2015. They came to keep The Record Track, his record store, a vital part of the community. The couple had a track record of school involvement, having served as coaches for Ogden International's robotics team. Anderson says her experience as a CPS parent fighting for her daughters' education inspired her to run. She was appointed to the 10b seat by Mayor Brandon Johnson in late July and has the backing of CTU.

Patrick Watson, lead legislative aide to Ald. Anthony Beale (9), has served on the Local School Councils at Keller Regional Gifted Center and Jones College Prep. He is endorsed by Common Ground Collective and The Urban Center. As of September 22, neither candidate had yet reported campaign contributions.

Rosita Chatonda was kicked off the ballot and is running as a write-in candidate, as she did in 2024.

Board Meeting Preview

The Chicago Board of Education will meet on Thursday. The agenda includes a presentation on current enrollment across the school district, a vote to approve refinancing bonds, and the opening of public comment on changes to the school volunteer policy.

Last night, in an intimate public discussion at the Firehouse Community Arts Center in North Lawndale, Board Members Michilla Blaise (5b) and Jitu Brown (5a) heard residents express concerns that many parents are prevented from volunteering in their children's schools because of red tape and/or because they have old criminal records.

To make it easier for parents to volunteer, CPS is proposing that anyone volunteering for 15 or fewer hours a week not be required to complete a background check. Board Rule will update this post when the comment link for the new policy goes live.

We are also continuing to track the status of the Black Student Achievement Committee, which CPS is required to form by state law. The proposed structure of ARC meetings allows time for the standing committees established by the board's by-laws: Student Success, Operations, and Finance. But the BSAC was not published on the ARC meeting schedule, as other meetings were.

People on the Move

Organizer, educator, and author Veronica Arreola has been named executive director of Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education. Arreola will onboard alongside interim executive director Gaylon Alcaraz through December 31, 2026, then assume the role full-time. "Public education was transformational for this daughter of an immigrant," Arreola said in a press release. "I can't wait to combine my experience as a community organizer, educator, and advocate to fight for the students of Chicago and Illinois." 

What We're Reading

"Democratic megadonor Michael Sacks demands social media videos stop in legal letter," Chicago Tribune (gift link).

"In Fighting for Every Black Child, Did I Betray My Own?" New York Times (gift link). Just in case you haven't read Nikole Hannah-Jones' searing 10-year sequel to her 2016 story about choosing to put her child in a segregated, low-income school.

Election-related reading. Let the voter guides roll out!

Chicago Public Media/Chalkbeat voter guide/

The UChicago Consortium on School Research has released issue guides with questions for board members and candidates.

The ALL Chicago Field Guide goes beyond a traditional voter guide to help readers understand the responsibilities of the school board and offers a compass for good governance.

Board Rule Voter Guide Coming October 1!

Speaking of voter guides, get ready for the Board Rule Down 'N Dirty Voter Guide, exclusively for paying subscribers. The guide will land in your inbox next Thursday, October 1, just in time for you to vote early at the Downtown SuperSite.

Board Rule's guide will ask candidates three key questions and put all the information you need in one handy location. If you've been reading Board Rule as a free subscriber, now's your chance to level up as a paid subscriber and get the guide.

Events

Tuesday, Sept. 29: District 5a/5b Candidates Forum, sponsored by Noble Schools, Doors 5:30; forum 6 p.m., Chicago Bulls College Prep, 2040 W. Adams St. RSVP here.

Tuesday, Sept. 29: School Board President Candidate Forum, sponsored by the 30th, 35th, 38th and 45th Ward Dems, 6:30-8 p.m., Copernicus Center Annex, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave. No RSVP required.

NEW! Wednesday, Sept. 30: Roundtable on Effective Board Governance, featuring Board Members Yesenia Lopez (7b), Angel Gutierrez (8a), and Ed Bannon (1a), co-sponsored by the Civic Federation and ALL Chicago, 11 a.m-1 p.m., DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd. RSVP here.

Wednesday, Sept. 30: District 3a/b Candidates Forum, including all candidates running in Districts 3A and 3B, sponsored by Noble Schools, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Pritzker College Prep, 4131 W. Cortland St. RSVP via QR code here.

Wednesday, Sept. 30: CAN-TV livestream forums with candidates from Districts 10B and 6A, 5:30 p.m.

Thurs. October 1: District 5A Forum, Doors 5:30; forum 6 p.m., sponsored by the Westside Branch NAACP with Austin Voice, Board Rule, The Culture, North Lawndale Community News, and more; moderated by Remel Terry, President, Westside Branch NAACP, Michele Clark Magnet High School, 5101 W Harrison St.

Mon. October 5: School Board Presidential Candidates Forum, sponsored by the Westside Branch NAACP with Austin Voice, Board Rule, The Culture, North Lawndale Community News, and more; moderated by Remel Terry, President, Westside Branch NAACP, doors 5:30; forum 6 p.m., Malcolm X College Auditorium, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd.

Thurs. October 8: Focus on Chicago School Board Elections, panel discussion with Joe Ferguson (Civic Federation), Board Rule's Maureen Kelleher, and Jane Charney (Jewish United Fund and CPS parent). 6:30 p.m. in Lakeview. RSVP for details here.

Fri. October 9: 5A/5B Candidate Forum, sponsored by the Parent Engagement Institute Chicago Coalition and other groups, 10 a.m., Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington. RSVP here.

Wed. October 14: School Board Presidential Candidates Forum, sponsored by Chalkbeat, Hyde Park Herald, and South Side Weekly, doors 5:30; forum 6 p.m., Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St.